MUSIC NEWS: DECEMBER 11, 2015
PAUL STANLEY OF KISS EXPLAINS HIS ANTHEM PHILOSOPHY
Paul Stanley of Kiss believes the national anthem is no time for showboating. Stanley will sing the anthem before the Spurs-Lakers game tonight in San Antonio. He tells The San Antonio Express a lot of singers tend to ``obliterate'' ''The Star-Spangled Banner`` and ''turn it into a showcase for vocal gymnastics.`` He says the anthem should be sung with respect. After he sings, Stanley will stick around to oversee the opening of the Rock and Brews restaurant at the AT-and-T Center. Stanley and Gene Simmons are among the restaurant's owners.
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COMMISSION APPROVES DEVELOPMENT PLAN FOR THE EDGE
The Edge of U2 has cleared a hurdle for his plan for a five-home development in California's Santa Monica Mountains. The California Coastal Commission has approved plans that would put the homes closer together and leave more open space. The Edge and a developer bought the land in 2006 and have been trying to build on it since 2007. They had to resubmit their proposal several times after environmentalists raised concerns. The plan must still go through local government processes.
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NICKI MINAJ ACCOMPANIES MEEK MILL AT PROBATION HEARING
Nicki Minaj was by Meek Mill's side at his probation hearing yesterday in Philadelphia. Minaj testified for about half an hour and promised to help him stay organized and fulfil his community service requirement. Prosecutors say Mill violated parole in a 2009 drug and gun case by repeatedly changing his court-approved travel schedule. Mill's lawyer, Frank DeSimone, says Mill is not trying to disrespect the judge and the music industry is chaotic. He also says Minaj and Mill are serious about getting married. Common Pleas Judge Genece Brinkley says Mill submitted a suspicious urine sample. Mill will appear in her court again next Thursday.
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LEIGH NASH SAYS SHE WAS COUNTRY ALL ALONG
Former Sixpence None The Richer singer Leigh Nash always wanted to make country music. Then she met Matt Slocum and got distracted with Sixpence for 20 years. Nash says it was a good thing, because as a teenager she didn't have the life experiences that make good country music. She's finally put out a country record, called ``The State I'm In,'' which draws from the old-time sounds of singers like Loretta Lynn and Jim Reeves. Nash crowdfunded the record and found it daunting at first because she does not like to ask for help. She says once the process got going and fans showed up in a big way to support her, the whole process was rather beautiful.
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``OSCAR, WITH LOVE'' FEATURES JAZZ ACTS PLAYING OSCAR PETERSON'S PIANO
The widow of jazz great Oscar Peterson was getting his grand piano tuned three years ago when the technician told her, ``The piano needs to be played.'' That gave her the idea to have the world's great jazz pianists come to her home outside Toronto to play it for a tribute record. Ramsey Lewis is one of the players and says he learned to play jazz piano by listening to Peterson's recordings.
Gerald Clayton says it was surreal to play on his hero's piano and it ``felt like travelling to somewhere sacred.'' Chick Corea, Bill Charlap and Oliver Jones are among the other acts on the 3-CD collection, ``Oscar, With Love,'' out today. Sixteen pianists will play the piano at a concert tonight at the Royal Conservatory of Music in Toronto. You can watch it online for free at https://www.rcmusic.ca/livestream.
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CHARLES KELLEY REVAMPS TOUR
Lady Antebellum's Charles Kelley is rejiggering his tour, but he's not saying why. Several of his upcoming concert dates have been moved to next year. He has not announced a new slate of tour dates or the reason for the rescheduling.
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ELVIS AUCTION WILL BE HELD AT GRACELAND
Elvis Presley's birthday will be marked next year with an auction of his memorabilia. Elvis Presley Enterprises in Memphis has announced that 126 items will be for sale on January 7. They include the guitar Presley played during the ``Aloha From Hawaii'' concert in 1973, a letter Presley wrote to his friend while he was stationed in Germany in 1958 and Presley's gold-tone microphone and cord. Graceland will also host guest speakers June Juanico, who dated Presley, and Glenn Derringer, who was 11 years old when he played piano on the Dorsey Brothers show with Presley in 1956. Presley was born January 8, 1935.
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JANIS JOPLIN'S CAR SOLD
Janis Joplin's psychedelic Porsche has sold for $1.76 million. That's well over the pre-auction estimate of 600-K.
It's been at the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum in Cleveland for the last two decades. Joplin's car was among the vintage autos offered last night by RM Sotheby in New York.
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LADY GAGA EARNS GOLDEN GLOBE NOMINATION
Lady Gaga says her Golden Globe nomination is ``a real honour for a waitress-singer-actress from New York!'' She was nominated for best actress in a TV movie or limited series for ``American Horror Story: Hotel.'' Brian Wilson, Sam Smith and Wiz Khalifa and Charlie Puth have a shot at the Golden Globes for best original song. Wilson is nominated for co-writing ``One Kind of Love'' from ``Love and Mercy.'' Smith co-wrote ``Writing's On The Wall'' from ``Spectre.'' Khalifa and Puth co-wrote ``See You Again'' from ``Furious 7.'' ''Love Me Like You Do`` from ''50 Shades of Grey`` and ''Simple Song Number 3`` from ''Youth`` are also nominated for best original song. The Golden Globes are January 10 in Los Angeles.
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(The Associated Press)